“We will never, ever forget Jared nor dishonor his memory. But let’s not wait til the end of the eulogy do discuss his successor, or talk about the animal blood or… wait, where were we? Ah, yes – Jared. He was an excellent spokesman for Subway.”

Efficient storytelling indeed, so we’ll overlook things like AEGIS talking through the eulogy or the fact that Will would have had a chance to talk to Bax about this earlier (an agency flunky telling Shanna about her forthcoming promotion at this point, on the other hand, sounds about the right level of sensitivity).

It’s always like this for the responsible ones, ain’t it? Accolades and recognition only come to them when they’re under a six-feet-thick earth blanket. They always come through, they always deliver, and everybody only kinda sorta notice they’re there, ever present but invisible, like the atmosphere. I wonder if Shanna knows what’s she’s (potentially) getting into…

Speaking of people who straddle the ally/enemy line attending funerals…Jesse’s presence at both of these funerals makes me really wonder what Donna’s up to now, since she doesn’t seem to be at either. I suppose Jesse having actually been an AEGIS member for an extended period of time contributes to him being welcome at these?

Jesse was never on bad terms with Marc or Jared… at least, not in his own opinion. He hated Rikk at first for killing his oh-so-beloved General, but got over it. Plus his attack on Rikk wasn’t really a masterful plan or even a true attack of opportunity – he had a lot of opportunities to attack Rikk before that happened. Essentially, he was a disturbed member of the Alphas who Rikk helped restabilize. His redemption is also proven in two separate timelines now – in this one his actions prevented Soulson from warping a hole through Rikk.

Donna was never on -good- terms, nor was she ever a member of AEGIS. She probably never even MET Marc, and she can’t have interacted much with Jared either. Her actions might’ve helped stop the Hand, but to those two, her presence would be slightly less appropriate than a total stranger’s.

@Eric: My guess is the first funeral being a private one allowed her to wear the clothes she herself found most appropriate. (Her origins shining through here, as much as she is estranged from her family.)
This here being an official event, there is a certain peer pressure to wear what the society as a whole deems appropriate. Which here would be black.